Draft-equalizer.



No. 665 748. Patented Ian. 8, I901.

cj'a. moan & J.'H. ELLIS.

DRAFT EHUALIZER.

(Application filed Aug. 1'1, 1900.

(No Model.)

v 6 Pg Suva/atom 1?. Mair/2' wihmooey i amw s llNlTED STATES PATENT@FFICE.

CYRUS R. MOHR AND JAMES H. ELLIS, OF ASSUMPTION, ILLINOIS.

DRAFT-EQUALIZ'ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,748, dated January8, 1901.

I Application filed August 11, 1:900. berial No. 26,626. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CYRUS R. MOHR and JAMES H. ELLIS, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Assumption,iu the county of Christian andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDraft- Equalizers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to the class of devices to be applied toagricultural implements for equalizing the draft of horses unevenlydistributed ,upon opposite sides of the pole or tongue.

Devices of the character aforesaid as generally constructed necessitatethe animals pushing against the pole when turning the implement. Thepresent contrivance obviates this objectionable feature and enables theanimals to pull the machine or implement to which they are hitchedaround.

Fora full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquireaknowledge of the details of construction of the means forefiecting the result reference is to be had to the appended descriptionand the drawings hereto attached.

\Vhile the essential and characteristic features of the invention arenecessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodimentof theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigurel is a perspective View of a draftequalizer embodying theessential features of this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in both the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The pole or tongue 1 is in practice attached to the frame of theimplement in any substantial and desired way, and the parts comprisingthe equalizer are attached thereto substantially as hereinafterdescribed and according as the implement operates right or left. An arm2 is rigidly attached at its intension 3.

2 is to support the heavy end of the evener beam and attached parts, andincidental to this use the arm, by reason of its hooked tcr minal,enables the draft to be applied so as to draw the implement laterally inone direction to avoid a stump or other obstruction in the direct pathof the machine.

The equalizing-lever 4c is pivotally connected to the rear portion ofthe pole by means of the bolt 5, and the latter is braced at its upperend by the hammer strap 6. The evener-beam 7 in its normal position isapproximately parallel with the equalizing-lever 4 and is of afloatingcharacter, since it has no positive connection with the pole or tongue,and is free to move in every direction to accommodate the strain of theload and draft. Links 8 and 9 connect the outer ends of theequalizing-lever at with the evener-beain 7 and are preferably composedof companion members embracing opposite sides of the parts to which theyare pivotally attached. The links 8 are shorter than the links 9 andextend about parallel with the pole l and connect corresponding ends ofthe parts 4 and 7. The links 9 are inclined with reference to the pole land line of draft and connect the outer end of the short arm oftheequalizing-lever 4 with the evener-beam 7 at a point about midwaybetween the pole 1 and the extremity of the long arm. singletrees11,'are connected to the evenerbeam in such a manner as to admit of one'horse being disposed upon one side of the pole and three horses uponthe opposite side of the said pole.

From the foregoing it will be I( adily understood that the draft isapplied directly to the evener-beam and from it to the pole or tongue bymeans of the links 8 and 9 and the equalizing-lever 4. The evener-beainbeing mounted so as to move freely in every direction, it is necessaryto provide and attach a stop thereto to enable the direct application ofthe draft to the pole or tongue when it is required to turn theimplement. The stop 12 is a roller, so as to reduce the friction betweenit and the pole to the smallest amount possible and obviate excessiveWear of the engaging surfaces. The roller-stop 12 projects from theevenerbeam across the path of the pole, so as to engage with a sidethereof, and is mounted upon The doubletrees 10, provided with a bolt13, which is braced by a strap 14. The relative position of the strapwill depend upon the location of the parts comprising the equalizer, soas to adapt it for either a right-hand or a left-hand implement.

In practice the parts being assembled substantially as shown and fourdraft-animals hitched to the evener-beam, one upon one side of the poleand three upon the other side, the draft is equalized. When theevenerbeam is pulled laterally in a direction tobrin g the stop 12against the adjacent side of the pole 1, the latter is turned and theimplement correspondingly drawn to one side, and a continued lateraldraft will efiect a turning of the implement, as will be readilyunderstood, the pole being carried around by means of the stop 12 inengagement therewith. Upon the application of lateral draft to theevenerbeam in an opposite direction the links 9 are brought in contactWith the hooked terminal of the arm 2, thereby causing the pole 1 tomove laterally and swerve the machine from a direct course, so as toavoid a stump, boulder, or other obstruction. The parts 12 and 3 aredisposed so as to admit of a limited lateral play of the evener-beamwithout affecting the pole. The book 3 constitutes, in effect, a stop,since it operates in substantially the same manner as the stop 12.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In adraft-equalizer, and in combination with the pole or tongue, anequalizing-lever, an evencr-beam, links connecting the equalizing-leverand evener-beam,'and an arm rigidly attached at its inner end to thepole and projecting horizontally therefrom to engage with one of thelinks and support the heavy end of the evener-beam and attached parts,substantially as specified.

2. In a draft-equalizer, and in combination with the pole or tongue, anequalizing-lever pivotally connected with the said pole, a floatingevener-beam, links connecting the equalizing-lever and evener-beam, andan arm rigidly attached to the pole and projecting laterally therefromand having an extension at its outer end constitutingastop to engagewith one of the links to admit of a positive application of the draftfor turning the implement, substantially as specified.

3. In a draft-equalizer, and in combination with the pole or tongue, anequalizing-lever pivotally connected to the pole, a floatingevener-bealn, links connecting the equalizinglever and evener-beam, aroller-stop applied to the evener-beam and adapted to bear laterallyagainst a side of the pole, and an arm rigidly attached to the pole andprojecting horizontally therefrom to engage with one of the aforesaidlinks to support the heavy end of the evener-beam and provided at itsouter end with an extension constituting a stop, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

CYRUS R. MOHR. JAMES H. ELLIS.

Witnesses:

MAURICE FRIEND, BARTHOLOMEW FITZE.

